Nozzle-propelling mechanism and method of propelling the same



July 3, 1928. 1,675,738

L. R. TITCOMB ET AL NOZZLE PROPELLING MECHANISM AND METHOD OF PROPELLING THE SAME 2 Sheet's-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19. 1926 ATTO R N EYS July 3, 1928. 1,675,738

L. R. TlTcoMB ET AL NOZZLE PROPELLING MECHANISM AND METHOD 0F PROPELLING THE SAME Filed Oct. 19. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AVroRNEYJ Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE B.. TITCOHB, F BROOKLYN, AND HARRY S. ASHIUN, 0l' NEW YORK, l'. Y.

NOZZLE-PBOPELLING IECHANISM AND METHOD 0l' PBOPELLING TEE m Application Med October 19, 1926. Serial I0.A148,700.

This invention relates to a new and improved nozzle propelling mechanism, and a method of propelling thc same.

()ue of the objects of this invent-ion is to providel a nozzle. which will be positively 1mpelled forwardly into a sewer or the like with great force by means of the action of a jet of water, air, or any fluid passing through the saule and which issues therefrom through a restricted opening so as to wash away thc obstructing matter. This forwardly directed jet of water can operate cutters, brushes, or the like, of the welLknown type to mechanically act upon obstructing matter. 'lhe use of any acriform fluid is t0 be considered as equivalent to the use of water, whenever water is mentioned herein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a nozzle consisting of two relatively slidable parts, each said part or one of said parts alone being provided with gripping fingers adapted to be forced outwardly by the water pressure within the nozzle so as t0 positively engage the walls of the sewer and the like and prevent the backward movement of the respective parts save when the water pressure has been released.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described in the last paragraph and also embodying a piston member and a cylinder member for imparting a positive intermittent motion to the respective parts of the nozzle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and` reliable control for the propulsive action of the water forced into the nozzle.

Other objects of this invention will be Set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of this in vention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section illustrat ing one embodiment of this device. n

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

lI-eretofore, nozzles have been utilized for Cleaning sewers, pipes and the like, in which a jet o f water forced into a nozzle was wholly or partially deflected so that it escaped rearwardly from the nozzle, so that the reaction on the nozzle caused it to be impelled forwardly. Nozzles of this type have been subjec to serious disadvantages. When said noz'zl s were made of large sizes or diameters, the reaction of the deflected water proved effective for forcing the nozzle forwardly, but the forward repulsion of the nozzle was often too rapidi: because it is desirable not to force the nozzle throughthe obstructing matter but to move the nozzle immediately adjacent the obstructing matter to cause the same to be washed away by the water flowing forwardly out of the nozzle. In smaller sizes, and particularly in nozzles having hose or pipe connections of diameters of less than one and a half inches experience has shown that the nozzle could not be propelled with sufficient force to drag along the weight of the nozzle and the rubber pipe connected thereto.

According to this invention, the water flowing through the nozzle is, in effect, caused to operate a hydraulic motor which forces the nozzle forwardly with a speed which can be regulated, while a forwardly flowing jet of water is 'caused to wash away the obstructing matter.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, .for example, the device comprises an outer casing 12 provided with two short longitudinal slots 15 and 16. The rear of the caslng 12 is provided with a coupling member 22 t0 which the end of a flexible rubber pipe or the like can be connected so as to force water under pressure into the interior of the casing 12.

A slide valve 38 is rovided in the interior of the easing 12. This slide valve 38 is provided with end piston-like parts rovlded with packing rings 38 so as to snug y fit the interior of the casing 12, and it also has a central piston-like part also provided with packing rings 422 and 38. The central piston-like part is also provided with any suitable number of perforations 382 and these communicate with an external recess which forms, in effect, a port whereby the water forced into the cylinder 10l can intermittently actuate the nozzle, as will be later more fully described.

The front of the casin 12 is provided with an internally threa ed cylinder cap lil 18 and this cap 18. has a front opening -13 through which a restricted amount of tin water'canconstantly pass to wash away the obstructing matter. The cap i8 has a cylindrical longitudinal wall in which a piston o is located. 'llic rear of the cap 18 is closed by a threaded rear cap 17 to which brackets tl are connected. Each of said brackets l carries a pin 34 on which a holding finger 't is pivotcd. Each pin 34 is provided vwith a .spiral spring 30, one end of which is connected to a fixed pin 33 and the other end of which bears against the respective finger 26 to move it normally into the inner or inoperative position shown in full lines at the left-hand side of Fig.,1. The rear end of the front piston 2O abuts extensions of the front lingers 26, so that when the front piston 20 is actuated rearwardly, the fingers 26 are moved outwardly to the clutching position, so that their ends engage the wall of the sewer or pipe, said clutching osition being indicated 1n dotted lines at tie lefthand side of Fig. 1.

The front end of the casing 12 is provided with two lateral perforations .25 as shown more clearly in F ig. 3, so that water under pressure always acts upon the front face of the front piston 20 to move it rearwardly and to turn the front fingers 26 into the operative position. However, when the water pressure is shut off, the springs 30 operate to move the piston 2O into the position shown in Fig. 1.

The middle portion of the casing 12 is provided With a lateral flange 12' and this flange. 12' is provided with parallel ports 42 and 42'. The flange 12 is provided with a piston ring 122 and the cylinder member l0 is slidably mounted upon the flange 12. The rear of the slidable cylinder member 10 is provided with an internally threaded cap 1l and a rear piston 19 is located behind the flange 12'. Each of the ports 42 and 42 could be replaced by a plurality of ports each similar to that illustrated here-in. The right-hand side of the device shown in Fig. 1 is provided with fingers 27 similar to the fingers 26 and these are'mounted noon pins connected to brackets 28, which are connected to the cap 11. Spiral torsion springs 31 have the same function as the springs 30 before mentioned, and they bear against pins 32 fixed to the brackets l28. When water under pressure is delivered to the port 42 the rear piston 19 is moved rearwardly to move the fingers 27 into the outer or operative position.

The slide valve 38 is provided with pins 36 and 37 which slide respectively in the slots 16 and 15 so as to prevent the slide valve 38 from turning in the casing 12.

A compression spring 14 is provided intermediate the front end of the cylinder member 10 and the pin 36 and a similar compression spring 13 is provided intermediate the rear pin 3i' and the rear end of the adjacent piston 11).

The front end of the slid(` valve 1lb is provided with a blade spring 23 which is connected thereto by means ofA rivets4 L51. The liront end of thc blade` spriug, is provided with a tapered dctent or latrh 4l which lits within the holes 25.

The operation of our device is as follows y \Vhen water or air under pressure enters the rear end of the casing 12, it passes immediately through theV hollow valve 38 and then through the front hole 25 into the member 18, so that the pressure of the water forces the piston 2t) rearwardly. This moves the fingers 26 from the position shown in full lines in F ig. 1 to the positionv indicated iu dotted lines, so that the said fingers 26 engage the wall of the pipe. Hence, the fingers 26 prevent any substantial rearward movement of the casing 12, because the piston 2O has a` very short effective stroke, and it acts as an abutment to limit the rearward movement of casing 12, when the fingers 26' are in the operative position.

The water also passes through the openings 382 into the continuous annular recess in the slide valve 38 which communicates with said openings 382, so that the water passes through the port 42 in the flange 12 and acts to force the casing 12 rearwardly and to urge the cylinder member 10 forwardly. The casing 12 cannot be actuated rearwardly because of the holding action of the fingers 26, which holding action increases if a backward force is impressed upon the casing 12. The forward force acting upon the cylinder member 10 aets upon the pin 36' by means of the intermediate compression spring 14, so that the force exerted upon the slide valve 38 is sufficient to force the latch member 41 out of the rear opening 25. The valve 38 is thereby snapped forwardly until the pins 36 and 37 contact with the forward ends of the slots 15 and 16` and the latch member 41 engages the frontopcning 25. The water under pressure now enters the front cylinder member 18 through the rear opening 25 so as to keep the fingers 26 in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This rear opening is suitably connected with front portion of cylinder 18, and any number of holes similar to25 can be provided at the front portion of easing 12, to enable the fluid under pressure to continuously urge the fingers 26 to operative position.

The port of the slide valve 38 now communicates with the port 42 in the flange 12', so that liquid under pressure now enters the port 42 and does not enter the port 42'. The liquid under pressure which enters the port 42 forces the cylinder 19 rearwardly so as. to move the fingers 27 from the full hne position shown in' Fig. 1- to the dotted line position indicated therein, so that the lingers 27 now ,engage the wall ofthe pipe. This engagement of the lingers 27 with the wall of the pipe limits the rearward movement of the piston 19 and the pressure on the back of the flange l2' now forces the casing 12 forwardly. lVhile the -asng 12 is beingforeed forwardly, the port 42 is adjacent the. front relatively narrow portion 383 of the slide valve 38, so that the water between the front of the tiaugc 12' and the opposite wall of the cylinder member 10 is free to escape and to pass out through the front slot 16.

The cylinder 10 slides on flange 12 with a certain amount of friction, duc to piston ring l2. Hence when the piston 19 is urged rearwardly by the water entering through port 42, it must force the finger.` 27 to their operative position before it acts lo keep` the cylinder member 10 stationary while the casing 12 moves forwardly. Independent of the friction due to piston ring 122, the rapidity of forward movement ot' casing 12 is limited by the speed with which the water intermediate the front face of 12 and the opposite wall of melnber 10 can escape. Hence the lingers 27 are -always moved to operative position before any substantial forward movement of casing 12 can take place.

As t-he casing 12 is moved forwardly while the cylinder 10 relnains stationary, the rear spring 13 is colnpressed and this tends to move the slide valve 38 rearwardly. As soon as the compression of the spring 13 is sufficient to overcome the force with which the blade spring 23 maintains the latch member 41 in the front hole 25, the said compression spring 13 snaps the valve 38 rearwardly so as to again place the port 42 into communication with the interior of the slide vvalve 38.

The casing 12and the valve 38 are now in the same relative position shown in Fig. 1, so that Water under pressure is free to act upon the front face of flange 12. This front face is now adjacent the opposite face of cylinder member 10. Since member 12 cannot be forced backwards, the member 10 is pushed forwardly, compressing the spring 14 until the valve 38 is again snapped forwardwardly.

Upon releasing the pressure of the water in the device, the fingers 26 and 27 are moved -to their inoperative position. so that the device can be readily removed from the pipe or the like. It will be noted that nearly all the water forced into the device issues forwardly therefrom, so as to wash away obstructing matter. In nozzles of the reaction type, a large quantity of water was deflected so as to issue rearwardly from the nozzle, which was a. disadvantage, because this water did not directly act upon the obstructing matter.

Since we are the first to provide ah draui lic motor in association with a nozz e and clutch means to propel the same forwardly in a series of intermittent forward movements, we do not wish to he limited to the details shown herein.

'lhe rapidity of the intermittent forward movementof the nozzle depends upon the rapidity with which water can escape out of the cylinder member 10.. 'lhis can be regulated by providing openings 15' and 16 ill the casing 12. and these openings can be provided with anysuitable regulating valves. It is preferable to have the water or other fluid adapted to enter the motor part of the device more rapidly than it can escape therefrom so that the vfingersl 27 are always kept' in operative position while the device is not used.

The use of gripping fingers for the casing is preferable, but is not absolutely necessary, because the inertia of the flexible hose connected to the rear thereof, and the friction of the hose against the wall of the sewer, substantially` hinders any rearward move ment of the easing. Hence the hose can be considered as constituting means adapted to prcventa substantial rearward movement of the casing.

When the device is operated by water, air or the like, it can be used as a tractor for dragging heavy cables, such as telephone cables, through conduits, and for other purposes. The device is also useful as a ram, and when used as a ram, ne front opening is necessary. Hence whenever the term nozzle is used, we do not wish to be restricted to a device having any opening, save the opening necessary to permit the escape of the fluid necessary to operate the motor part of the device.

We have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made without departing from its spirit.

7e claim:-

1. A nozzle comprising two relatively slidable parts movable away from each other, the said parts having associated pressure faces, means adapted to supply water under pressure to the said pressure faces of the said parts to move them away from each other, and means adapted to prevent the rearward movement of that one of said parts which is rearwardly urged by the said water pressure.

2. In a nozzle, the subcombination of clutch means adapted to grip the wall of a pipe or the like, and hydraulically operable means adapted to force said clutch means to the operative position` and means adapted to move said nozzle longitudinally with respect tov said clutch means.

3. In a nozzle, the subcombination of clutch means adapted to grip the wall of a pipe or the like, spring means adapted'to urge :said clutch means to the inoperative position, and hydraulically operable means adapted to urgei said clutch means tothe operative position, and means adapted to move said nozzle longitudinally with respect to said clutch means..

Al. ln a nozzle, the subeombiuation of a hollow casing adapted to have water forced therein, an annular cylinder member mounted upon the Said easing and longitudinally movable with respect thereto, means connecting the interior of the said casing to the interior of the said cylinder, clutch means associated with said cylinder member and adapted to grip the Vall of a pipe or the like, and a piston member located in the said cylinder member and adapted to be actuated by water entering said cylinder ineinher to force said clutch means to the operative position.

5. ln a nozzle, the siibeonibination of two parts, relatively movable in a longitudinal direction away from each other, the said parts having pressure faces adapted to be antoniatieally actuated by water forced into the said nozzle, and spring means connecting the said parts and adapted to be distorted when the said parts are moved relatively to each other.

In a nozzle, the subeoinbination of two relatively n'iovable parts movable away from each other, the said parts having pressure faces adapted to be acted upon by the pressure of water forced into the said nozzle., and a movable valve adapted to be actuated during the movement of water out of the nozzle to control the action of the pressure upon the said pressure faces.

7. A nozzle con'iprisingr a casing having an opening at the forward end thereof, means adapted to connect: said casing to a source of Water supply so that substantially all`of the water forced into the said casing escapes from the forward part thereof to wash away any obstructing mattei' in l'ronil oll the nozzle, and a hydraulic motor actuated by the pas-age oll water through the said nozzle to intermittently torce the said nozzle l'orwaidly.

A nozzle comprising a easing having a lateral llange intermediate the ends thereol', the said flange being provided with two ports extending therethrough and opening into the interior ot' the .said easing. the said portsbeing eorrespondingly iiieliin-d willi rcspeet tothe central axis of the easing :ind lie-- ing laterally and longitudinally spaced l'roin each other, a slidable cylinder member litting over vthe lange oi' the said easing, the said hiiige ol' the'easiugl being lot-ated intermediate the ends of the said cylinder member, clutch means associated with the .said cylinder ineiiibei' and adapted to grip the wall ol' a pipe or the like, means operable by waier pressure located in said cylinder iiieniher and adapted to force the said eluteh means into operative position, a slide valve having end piston-like parts and an intermediati` piston-like part fitting within the said easing and coiniected by two intermediate parts olf relatively smaller diameter, a port ref-ess located on the exterior of said central pistonlike part and communicating with the inte rior of the said valve, conipressible spring means yieldably associated with one end ol said slide valve to the said casing, .second compressihle spring means associated with the other end of said valve to the adjacent end of the said cylinder member, and spring controlled latch means adapted to yieldiiigly connect the said slide valve to two separated points of the said casing so that the said port recess is alternately aligned with the ports of the said flange.

In testimony whereof we alix our signatures.

LEE R. 'll'lCOML HARRY ASIlMUN.

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